A.J. Brown has been the subject of numerous trade rumors heading into the 2026 NFL offseason, with several reports indicating he’s unhappy with his situation. The Philadelphia Eagles could explore making a deal for their star wide receiver, and one analyst thinks that they can swap him for a pass rusher. The catch is that it would require sending him to one of their biggest rivals.
Kayvon Thibodeaux for A.J. Brown Trade Proposal Emerges
The most common return package when star players are traded during any offseason is often centered around swapping them for draft picks. The Eagles could explore this situation in exchange for Brown, but an analyst recently suggested an alternative.
In a bold suggestion for what Philadelphia could potentially get for their wide receiver, Tommy Lugauer floated the idea of them making a deal with one of their biggest rivals. While this is uncommon in the NFL, he speculated that they may be willing to do so in order to land a desired pass rusher.
“How about Kayvon Thibodeaux for A.J. Brown? Who says no? The Giants get a premier wide receiver to surround Jaxson Dart with to go along with Malik Nabers, and the Eagles get a big-time pass rusher to add to their team. Both make out … So mull it over, let it marinate, let it sink in, and you will realize, once you do, that it’s genius,” offered Lugauer.
Tommy says the Giants and Eagles should make an A.J. Brown for Kayvon Thibodeaux trade:@tommylugauer pic.twitter.com/x3uY4AvqId
— WFAN Sports Radio (@WFAN660) February 18, 2026
The Eagles have built an identity under general manager Howie Roseman by making pass rushers one of their biggest priorities every year. They often target this position in their roster acquisitions, and their success in bringing in the right players has contributed to their appearances in two of the past four Super Bowls.
Trading with a rival team is not a common practice in the NFL, but if Roseman believes that Kayvon Thibodeaux could be a star pass rusher, he may be willing to make a deal with the New York Giants. He is still just 25 years old and plays a position that they have regularly put a premium on.
The other side of Lugauer’s suggested trade proposal includes the Giants landing Brown. This would give them an elite wide receiver duo, with Malik Nabers, to continue building around promising young quarterback Jaxson Dart. Brown finished three of his four seasons with the Eagles among the top-ten wide receivers in PFSN’s WR Impact Rankings and could help solve their problem of needing more playmakers.
